This multi-year research project involves a collaborative team of academics, student researchers, design professionals, experts, and local decision-makers in order to envision and analyze novel spatial adaptation strategies for sea level rise in the Fraser River Delta.
Sea level rise (SLR) is one of the most existential challenges facing contemporary societies. By 2030 over 60% of the world’s population will be living in coastal areas. In addition to SLR and other effects of climate change, these coastal areas are also confronted with ongoing population growth, aging infrastructure, and habitat fragmentation. It is therefore critical to develop new planning and design approaches that situate safety and spatial quality within a framework of social and ecological health. At the same time, it offers opportunities to envision new ways of living with coastal dynamics. In this context, the Fraser River Delta provides a perfect case study area. Situated along the Cascadia fault line and home to a rapidly growing population of nearly 3 million people, the region is in urgent need of integrated approaches to coastal resilience.
As such, this research project explores how design thinking, creative problem solving and community engagement can help generate and analyze novel spatial adaptation strategies for sea level rise. Key research questions include: How can designers support planners and decision-makers in both the analysis and generation of a complete range of potential adaptation strategies to sea level rise, both in the short and long-term? Can we develop adaptation strategies that improve safety, spatial quality, and ecosystem services? How can we leverage community and stakeholder participation in order to increase public support for these multi-benefit adaptation strategies and investments? And lastly, how do you plan and design for an uncertain future?